MIKE MASSIMINO RETURNS TO HOST SEASON TWO OF "THE PLANETS AND BEYOND" PREMIERING TUESDAY, MARCH 20TH AT 10PM ET/PT

(New York) - Former NASA Astronaut Mike Massimino is back to serve as our tour guide through the universe in the new season of THE PLANETS AND BEYOND, debuting Tuesday, March 20th at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Science Channel. Each of the eight episodes in the second season takes an in-depth look at everything from Neptune & Uranus, to alien planets and the Sun. Massimino, who flew on two space shuttle missions to repair the Hubble Telescope, provides a perspective on the cosmos that only an elite few can match.

The premiere episode, BIRTH OF THE EARTH, is the incredible story of the origins of our world, which reveals that planets like Earth in other parts of the universe must be abundant. Our planet was formed by a series of cataclysms, from the most powerful blast in the universe to a planetary collision that could have destroyed it. Yet without these events, Earth would not exist, nor would we. Could the same extraordinary chain of events have created other earth-like planets elsewhere in the universe, which are inhabited by creatures like us?

Also explored this season are Uranus, Neptune and Mercury as well as alien planets, which scientists have for the last twenty years been discovering at an amazing rate. The Milky Way, which is our home galaxy that is made up of 200 billion stars, one of which is the Sun, will also be looked at.

An astronaut, the first person to tweet from space, and now a New York Times bestselling author, Mike Massimino grew up a working-class kid whose seemingly unreachable dream of becoming an astronaut and going to space was realized in an unlikely journey that was driven by determination and commitment and realized with hard work and humor. After two missions to the Hubble Space Telescope and four space walks to make critical repairs to the telescope, Mike is now the Senior Space Advisor to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, a Columbia University professor, an author, a media personality, and an in-demand speaker for audiences seeking a unique perspective on teamwork, innovation, and leadership from a down-to-earth spaceman.

About Science Channel

Science Channel, a multi-media business unit of Discovery Communications, is the home of all things science around the clock, including series such as MYTHBUSTERS, STREET SCIENCE, OUTRAGEOUS ACTS OF SCIENCE, WHAT ON EARTH?, HOW THE UNIVERSE WORKS, MYSTERIES OF THE ABANDONED, UNEARTHED, SPACE'S DEEPEST SECRETS, and HOW IT'S MADE. Science Channel is the premiere TV, digital and social community for those with a passion for science, space, technology, archeology, and engineering, providing immersive, engaging, high-quality entertainment across all Science Channel assets including: Science Channel television network, available in more than 68 million homes in the U.S; complimentary Video On Demand offering; SCI Go app allowing viewers to catch up on full episodes of their favorite shows anytime; deep video, interactive storytelling and virtual reality at www.sciencechannel.com; and conversations on Science Channel's popular social platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat via @ScienceChannel.

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 pay-TV programmer reaching nearly 3 billion cumulative subscribers in more than 220 countries and territories. For 30 years Discovery has been dedicated to satisfying curiosity and entertaining viewers with high-quality content through its global television brands, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery and Science, as well as U.S. joint venture network OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Discovery controls Eurosport, the leading pan-regional sports entertainment destination across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools, including an award-winning series of K-12 digital textbooks, through Discovery Education, and a digital leader with a diversified online portfolio, including Discovery Digital Networks. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.